Planting Some Seeds
By Shirley Mitchell
"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:5-7
Coral had been waiting 10 days on standby to fly from San Francisco to return to her home in Israel. When she saw that the plane equipment for the flight on the 10th day had been upgraded to a 767, she thanked God. There was room for her on the flight. She had no idea how right she was because God was truly involved with getting her on that flight that day.
God arranged for this sweet young lady to sit next to me on this 5-hour leg of her trip. I have been praying for God to let me share with Jewish people the knowledge of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. I was probably the only person on the flight who could pull out her Bible study on 35 Hebrew names of God and another short lesson on the Jewish Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When I saw her typing on her laptop in Hebrew, I went to the bathroom and squealed! I asked God to give me the words to pour out what He had put into me. At the same time, I asked God to help me to not be overbearing since I had her trapped by the window.
When I returned to my seat, I plainly told her that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and then explained to her the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled proving so. When she spoke about her Jewish feasts, I could talk about them right along with her. We talked about Shavuot, the summer wheat harvest feast, and Sukkot, the feast of the tabernacle or to Christians the feast of ingathering. We talked about Passover and setting the table for Elijah. I explained to her that Elijah had already come. Malachi 4:5 was fulfilled by John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus. When she brought up Purim, I talked about how we just celebrated it, and my beloved husband made Haman's ears which are like cookies.
I was living 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 that day. Just like God's servants Paul and Apollos were used - one to plant seeds and the other to water the seeds, God used me that day to share what He had taught me and the experiences that I have had with Him. Some other servant may come along and water the seeds that I planted, but neither of us is responsible for the growth of the seeds. God is responsible! In His safe hands, I can trust that the seeds that were sown will not be in vain. She had waited 10 whole days for a flight, for the very flight that God had me on, because our Father was reaching out to this precious woman. He will grow what He has planted. O precious one, are you prepared to pour out what God has poured into you? Are you willing to sow the seeds even if you never see them grow? Let's live a faith where we see encounters as opportunities to steer the conversation to our God and share what God has planted in our hearts.
Pray with me: Oh, God, thank You so much for how You are so involved in our lives. Thank You for arranging this meeting. We pray that You continue to seek this precious woman. We trust You to make the seeds grow in her heart. We ask You to give us more opportunities to plant and water and to share the good news of truth that You have planted in our hearts. It's in the mighty Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Watchmen for Israel: The Return
Watchmen for Israel: The Return
“In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”
Isaiah 11:11-12
In the Bible study Jesus Lives Session 7 DVD, I teach you the signs of Jesus’ return. I so passionately desire for you and me to be women who know how to look at current events from God’s viewpoint. We must be on alert because these signs are happening in our lifetime, and we need to know what to do with them. Prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled in our lifetime. Let’s focus on one topic that is covered by many Scriptures today.
The Roman Empire defeated Israel, and most of the population was dispersed throughout the known world during 66 – 135 A.D. This time is known in Israel as the Diaspora. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were scattered to the ends of the earth. They did not return to their homeland as a nation until God fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 66:8 which says that Israel would be born in one day, “Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” On May 14, 1948, the United Nations decreed Israel was a nation. This nation was born in one day!
From 1948 to 2000, 20% of the world’s Jewish population went to Israel. Even though they did not have a country, they maintained their Jewish identity and religion. The largest groups were Holocaust survivors and people leaving after the fall of communism. The Jewish people are returning to Israel from all over the world. They are coming from African countries like Ethiopia, Arab countries, and the former communist block. When the Berlin Wall fell and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, the doorway was open for the Jewish people to return to their homeland. They immigrate to Israel, making aliyah, which is the Hebrew word for “ascension” or “go up.” (In the Bible, all geography points speak of going up to Jerusalem because of its elevation.) They are living the dream of their ancestors for the past 2,000 years!
They are also fulfilling the numerous prophecies that God was going to bring Israel back. The return of the Jews was prophesied in so many Scriptures - Jeremiah 3:14, 31:8-9, and Zechariah 2:6-7 to list just a few. Ezekiel 37:5-8 (New King James Version) says, “Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” Scripture tells us that the dry bones were the house of Israel. Ezekiel’s prophecy was that God was going to divinely bring life back to the dry scattered dead bones. The dry bones represent Israel during the Diaspora.
When they returned, Israel was an arid desert. However, through their hard work and God’s blessing, the desert blooms with abundance. Within the past few days, there are news reports of two huge natural gas fields that have been discovered in the Mediterranean off of Haifa to which Israel apparently holds title (Source: Jerusalem post).
Scripture tells us that those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3, 27:29, Numbers 24:9). God’s Word is filled with examples of Gentiles who were blessed themselves as a result of blessing Israel. Rahab believed God, and her family was spared in the fall of Jericho. Ruth also believed God and was blessed with a kinsman redeemer. In Luke 7, the Roman centurion who loved Israel and built a synagogue for the Jews was blessed when his servant was healed. Cornelius gave money to the poor people in Israel. His family and he were blessed by being the first Gentile believers (Acts 10). God’s Word tells us in many places like Isaiah 49:22 that Gentiles will aid the Jewish people’s return in the last days. God will bless those Gentiles, too!
Many years ago, I was watching a program on TV about this migration to Israel, aliyah. God spoke to my heart and told me that yes, He is pleased that I tithe to the church and give to the poor, the orphans, and the hungry as His Word tells me to do. However, He said, I never need to ask if it is His will to participate in sending the Jews back to Israel. He has repeated Himself over and over in Scripture because this is His plan. My husband and I started sending Jews back. Then, my daughter saved her money for two years so she could also participate in the fulfillment of this prophecy. Now, Christ Compels is sending back our first Jew. It is the most glorious experience to know that I am contributing to the fulfillment of prophecy in the Word of God! Oh, precious one, you can, too. You can offer God what you have and join us in prayer for this exciting time on the kingdom calendar!
Pray with me: Almighty God, Your Word says, “Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind (Ezekiel 39:28).” You are bringing Your people back to Israel. While this door is open, we pray that Your Spirit sends out the call to every Jew in every nation. May each one have the opportunity and means to return. Raise up Jews and Christians to make this possible. Provide a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way. May Your bride be awakened for what is happening in our days and join You in Your movement of Your people. Father, help us to be a people who know the signs of our times and stand as watchmen on the wall and be prepared for Your Son’s return. It’s in His Name, we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
“In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”
Isaiah 11:11-12
In the Bible study Jesus Lives Session 7 DVD, I teach you the signs of Jesus’ return. I so passionately desire for you and me to be women who know how to look at current events from God’s viewpoint. We must be on alert because these signs are happening in our lifetime, and we need to know what to do with them. Prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled in our lifetime. Let’s focus on one topic that is covered by many Scriptures today.
The Roman Empire defeated Israel, and most of the population was dispersed throughout the known world during 66 – 135 A.D. This time is known in Israel as the Diaspora. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were scattered to the ends of the earth. They did not return to their homeland as a nation until God fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 66:8 which says that Israel would be born in one day, “Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” On May 14, 1948, the United Nations decreed Israel was a nation. This nation was born in one day!
From 1948 to 2000, 20% of the world’s Jewish population went to Israel. Even though they did not have a country, they maintained their Jewish identity and religion. The largest groups were Holocaust survivors and people leaving after the fall of communism. The Jewish people are returning to Israel from all over the world. They are coming from African countries like Ethiopia, Arab countries, and the former communist block. When the Berlin Wall fell and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, the doorway was open for the Jewish people to return to their homeland. They immigrate to Israel, making aliyah, which is the Hebrew word for “ascension” or “go up.” (In the Bible, all geography points speak of going up to Jerusalem because of its elevation.) They are living the dream of their ancestors for the past 2,000 years!
They are also fulfilling the numerous prophecies that God was going to bring Israel back. The return of the Jews was prophesied in so many Scriptures - Jeremiah 3:14, 31:8-9, and Zechariah 2:6-7 to list just a few. Ezekiel 37:5-8 (New King James Version) says, “Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” Scripture tells us that the dry bones were the house of Israel. Ezekiel’s prophecy was that God was going to divinely bring life back to the dry scattered dead bones. The dry bones represent Israel during the Diaspora.
When they returned, Israel was an arid desert. However, through their hard work and God’s blessing, the desert blooms with abundance. Within the past few days, there are news reports of two huge natural gas fields that have been discovered in the Mediterranean off of Haifa to which Israel apparently holds title (Source: Jerusalem post).
Scripture tells us that those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3, 27:29, Numbers 24:9). God’s Word is filled with examples of Gentiles who were blessed themselves as a result of blessing Israel. Rahab believed God, and her family was spared in the fall of Jericho. Ruth also believed God and was blessed with a kinsman redeemer. In Luke 7, the Roman centurion who loved Israel and built a synagogue for the Jews was blessed when his servant was healed. Cornelius gave money to the poor people in Israel. His family and he were blessed by being the first Gentile believers (Acts 10). God’s Word tells us in many places like Isaiah 49:22 that Gentiles will aid the Jewish people’s return in the last days. God will bless those Gentiles, too!
Many years ago, I was watching a program on TV about this migration to Israel, aliyah. God spoke to my heart and told me that yes, He is pleased that I tithe to the church and give to the poor, the orphans, and the hungry as His Word tells me to do. However, He said, I never need to ask if it is His will to participate in sending the Jews back to Israel. He has repeated Himself over and over in Scripture because this is His plan. My husband and I started sending Jews back. Then, my daughter saved her money for two years so she could also participate in the fulfillment of this prophecy. Now, Christ Compels is sending back our first Jew. It is the most glorious experience to know that I am contributing to the fulfillment of prophecy in the Word of God! Oh, precious one, you can, too. You can offer God what you have and join us in prayer for this exciting time on the kingdom calendar!
Pray with me: Almighty God, Your Word says, “Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind (Ezekiel 39:28).” You are bringing Your people back to Israel. While this door is open, we pray that Your Spirit sends out the call to every Jew in every nation. May each one have the opportunity and means to return. Raise up Jews and Christians to make this possible. Provide a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way. May Your bride be awakened for what is happening in our days and join You in Your movement of Your people. Father, help us to be a people who know the signs of our times and stand as watchmen on the wall and be prepared for Your Son’s return. It’s in His Name, we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
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